Sabah women footballers ready for Melaka
Sabah women are physically and mentally ready to face Melaka for a place in the final of the 31st Tun Sharifah Rodziah Cup football tournament.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah women are physically and mentally ready to face Melaka for a place in the final of the 31st Tun Sharifah Rodziah Cup football tournament.
The potentially mouth-watering semifinal clash between the country’s women football heavyweights will take place at the MMU Cyberjaya football field at 9am today.
It will be the second meeting between the teams in the tournament following their 11 outcome in the league last month.
And head coach Mohd Aiyyman Shah Johny Abdullah expected another tough game awaiting them - not only because it is a semifinal tie but Melala are strengthened by seven Sabahan players.
“Melaka are a good team and certainly no pushovers either. However, our players are more than ready for our most important match in the tournament so far.
“We want to emerge victorious at the end of the match and we have high hopes of realising it.
“Hopefully, the players will produce quality performances and play to instructions. The players must also be mentally strong.
“For me, the team who have made better preparation would go all the way to the final,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Sabah women too will have added motivation to come out tops in the semifinal clash as they eye another final match to try and improve on their current collection of 11 Tun Sharifah Rodziah Cup titles.
The last of the title, however, was won in 2004 while their last final appearance was in 2016 where they lost 2-3 to a MISCMIFA side that had the services of Sabahan players.
Meanwhile, Aiyyman will be able to field his strongest side for the semifinal match.
“All the players are in good condition and there is no injury concern...we will give it our utmost best,” said Aiyyman, who was a former assistant coach of the national women football team.
Sabah will line up in a 4-3-3 formation with Asma Junaidi in between the posts while the the rest are captain Eslilah Esar, Monika Patris Semudin, Salisa Thomas, Yasrikallaura Tumas, Haindee Mosroh, Nurhalizah Ahmad, Jaciah Jumilis, Usliza Usman, Shereillynn Elly Pius and Pahang-born player Puteri Noralisa Wilkinson.
The other semifinals will be played between last year’s finalists Kedah and Penang also at the MMU Cyberjaya football field at 9am.
The final will be played tomorrow (December 9) at the UiTM Shah Alam Stadium at 4:15pm.